The University of Manchester Library

01/09/2026

The theme of this year’s East and South East Asian (ESEA) Heritage Month is ‘Evolving Threads’, recognising “that the experiences of East and Southeast Asian communities are deeply interconnected across generations, borders and movements”.

Why not explore The University of Manchester Library’s East Asia and Southeast Asia and Australasia Collections? Spanning 500 years of history and culture, the collections are comprised of manuscripts, wood blocks, calligraphy and cartographic material, and printed books.

Additionally, why not explore the spotlighted resources on our East Asian Studies Subject Guide as well?

28/08/2026

It’s Manchester Pride this weekend! 🐝🌈

We are proud of Manchester’s history of LGBTQ+ activism and community. Celebrate the voices and experiences that make up our city, through our LGBTQ+ Special Collections, the British Pop Archive, and our curated collections on Libby.

27/08/2026

🎉 The University of Manchester has joined the Open Education Network! 🎉

We are delighted to become the seventh UK institution to join the OEN, an international community dedicated to advancing open education. Our membership marks an important milestone for the Library's Flip to Open project, providing access to a wealth of expertise, resources, professional development opportunities and publishing support that will help us expand the creation, adoption and adaptation of OER across the University.

Through this partnership, we look forward to supporting teaching colleagues to discover, create and share high-quality open learning materials, helping to deliver more flexible, accessible and inclusive learning experiences for our students while supporting the ambitions of Manchester 2035.

We are excited to connect with colleagues across the global OEN community, share best practice, and contribute to the growing movement for open and equitable education. 🌍📚

25/08/2026

Last week marked the anniversary of of the Peterloo Massacre, a key moment in Manchester’s history of protest and reform.

Explore Radicalism and Popular Protest in Georgian Britain, a powerful primary source collection documenting protest movements, reform campaigns and political unrest.

Useful for essays, dissertations and research projects in history, politics and social justice.

Access via Library Search or relevant subject guides.

24/08/2026

💙 Blue 1 is back and better than ever! 💙

When you return this September, you’ll find an improved Blue 1 study space in Main Library, shaped by student feedback.

✅ Laptop docking stations
✅ More height-adjustable desks
✅ More plug sockets at desks
✅ New desks

Thank you to everyone who shared their views and helped shape these improvements. Your voice continues to influence how we develop Library spaces to better support your learning.

20/08/2026

🏆 This year Manchester’s University Challenge team were crowned champions earlier - securing the University’s fifth victory and making Manchester joint most successful in the history of the competition. 🧠🎉

Now, you can get a closer look at the trophy they brought home and celebrate their incredible achievement for yourself.

📍 Come and see the trophy in Main Library.

The winning team - Ray Power, Kirsty Dickson, Rob Faulkner and captain Kai Madgwick, with reserve player Argyro Olympitis - put in hours of training in the Library before making it all the way to the final.

So next time you’re in Main Library, keep an eye out for a little piece of University Challenge history! 👀🏆

12/08/2026

Training and support for our research community continues over the summer 💻

Search 'UoM Library My Research Essentials' to discover our regular workshops for researchers and academics and Library drop-ins, or take a look at our range of online guides.

11/08/2026

The University of Manchester Library has joined the Open Journals Collective, supporting a more equitable, community-led approach to academic publishing and helping make research free to read and publish. Find out more:

Press release written by the Open Journals Collective and originally posted on their website:University of Manchester Library joins the Open Journals Collective — Open Journals CollectiveAnnouncementWe are delighted to announce that the University of Manchester Library has joined the Open Journals...

11/08/2026

We have expanded our digital archive collections with new and enhanced resources, increasing access to primary source content across the social sciences and humanities.

Studying drama, literature, performance or theatre-making?

We have added National Theatre Collections Volume IV to its existing Drama Online access. The collection includes six filmed productions spanning classic and contemporary theatre, with themes including politics, family, immigration and identity. Supporting learning resources and behind-the-scenes material make this a valuable resource for teaching, study and research in drama, performance, literature and related disciplines.

Researching women’s writing, early modern history or everyday life?

Perdita Manuscripts is now available through the Library, providing digitised access to manuscripts written or compiled by women in the British Isles during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Bringing together poetry, religious writing, autobiographical works, household accounts, recipes and remedies, the collection supports teaching and research in early modern literature, history, gender studies and the history of the book.

Access via Library Search or relevant subject guides.

06/08/2026

We have recently expanded our digital archives collections, increasing access to primary source content across the social sciences and humanities.

🎨Exploring a new topic? Cambridge Companions Online gives you clear, expert introductions to key authors, themes and debates across the arts, humanities and social sciences. A useful starting point for essays, seminars and dissertation research. Access via Library Search or relevant subject guides.

🗺️Studying people, cultures or societies? ProQuest One Anthropology brings together ethnographies, field notes, manuscripts, films and other multimedia resources to help you work with primary sources. Useful for coursework, presentations, dissertations and independent research in anthropology and related subjects. Access via Library Search or relevant subject guides.